Since Bravo gave Jill Zarin and Alex McCord the boot, they're able to pay LuAnn de Lesseps and Ramona Singer the big bucks!

Normally paid $275,000 for 16 episodes, both Real Housewives of New York stars are now being paid $500,000 to tape 18 episodes.

That's almost $28,000 an episode!!! Just think of all the jewelry they can buy now!

But of course, there's already gossip that the new girls are complaining about the difference in pay.

According to an insider:

Nothing causes drama more than asking all the ladies to do the same amount of work and paying some more for it than others. Sonja Morgan and the new ladies are not earning anything like the money LuAnn and Ramona are, and that is already causing tension — plus, a very unlikely friendship between past enemies LuAnn and Ramona. It's way too early to know how all this is going to play out, but early meetings have gone great.

Oh, whatever! Cry us a freakin' river! You're the NEW girls!

It's just like any job; your pay starts out at the bottom. You earn the pay raises with loyalty and commitment. Get over it!!!

They should have cleared the whole cast. The whole show is like one big advertisement for the "Housewives". I can't watch one more second of Sonja or Ramona. I can't watch Luann sing. I think she has a nice voice for a retirement cruise. Cast young hip NYC housewives!

These two can't stand each other. I can imagine Bravo believes women will tune in to watch the fur fly. Lu Ann is so overbearingly obnoxious. I can tolerate Ramona. The whole show is just too unpleasant to watch. It's not entertaining anymore, just annoying. I enjoy the RHONJ though, they are a hoot!

I dont like either of them. Ramona is a nut case. LuAnn thinks she can actually sing- whoever told her she could was dillusional. Sonjia annoys me beyond belief. I would have rathered they kept Jill Zarin.

a job is a job. there should not be such an enormous disparity. If I were Sonja I would be pissed. What business brain does Bravo have. Ramona's life with Mario and the neglected, spoiled rotten daughter is playing to the end. Luann is universally disliked. Her cavorting with her almost gigilo, in front of her children, is ghastly. She drinks too much. She will play herself out.

Luanne should definitely go. I never heard her ever say anything remotely intelligent, but did see lots of backstabbing comments fly out of her mouth. She's so full of herself it's both obnoxious and embarrassing to watch. Does she really believe that she can sing!?! She is an airhead.

I think Bravo would have best served themselves by letting all of them go and start with a fresh new cast.

Giving LuAnn a big raise what a joke. I couldn't stand LUAnn, her voice is sooo unbelieavably ugly and who said that she can sing even appeared together with N. Cole is beyond my imagination. LuAnn acted like she is at the same level with N. Cole what a dillusional woman. My ears were bleeding listening to her harsh bariton voice. I wonder what is the agenda of her big nose boyfriend who looked way younger than her? To get a short glimps on TV??? LOL. LuAnn is the most obnoxious and back stabbing woman. She is selfish and thinks that she is above other HWs just because she is a Countess? Please she doesn't deserve to be called Countess. Please LuAnn go away!!!!!!!